Coin control device for hand operating mechanisms



Sept. 4, 1934. F R coATs COIN CONTROL DEVICE FOR RAND OPERATING MEOHANIsMs Filed May 14, i951 4 SheetS-Shee'c l INVENIOR.

ATTORNEYS.

F. R. COATS Sept. 4,- 1934.

COIN CONTROL DEVICE FOR HAND OPERATING MECHANISMS Filed May 14. 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 M M, HVVENTOR,-`

Sept. 4, 1934. F. R. coATs 1,972,185

COIN CONTROL DEVICE FOR HAND OPERATING MECHANISMS Filed May 14, 1931 l 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I?" "1*" lw INVENTOR:

T J .15' @fa/w@ ATT'ORNEYS.

Sept., 4, 1934. F, R, COATS 1,972,185

COIN CONTROL DEVICE FOR HAND OPERATING MECHANISMS Filed May 14, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

E w3. mf M Patented Sept. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES COIN CONTROL DEVICE FOR HAND OPERATING Fred R. Coats,

MECHANISMS Springfield, Ill.

Application May 14, 1931, Serial No. 537,289

3 Claims.

My invention relates to devices which are only operative by the use of certain species of coins for the control or release of machines which are manually or mechanically moved either during the control of the movement or following such control. Machines operated by my device may include vending machines, electrical switches, dispensers, and other such machines as may require a coin release before a mechanical or manual control may be established.

An object of my invention is to provide a coin device for operating a machine for dispensing individual pieces of candy or cartons containing the same or for dispensing other articlesof merchandise either with or without the cartons.

A further object of my invention is to provide a coin device for controlling a machine for protecting and dispensing merchandise such as confections which may be placed on a trap shelf in individual pieces or in cartons and dispensed by releasing a lever operatively connected with a coin control device.

` A further object of my invention is to provide a coin control for a machine for vending candy bars or other confections in individual pieces or in cartons and to provide refrigeration for the candy while 4being held in the machine and to provide a coin operated means of releasing the candy bars and the like.

A particular object of my invention is to provide a machine of the character above mentioned adapted to be coin-operated by the use of a nickel and to provide in connection with the coin control device means for preventing any coin or slug from operating the machine except a nickel.

I attain one of the objects of my coin control device by the vending machine described in the annexed specication, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals indicate like parts in the several figures, and the claims recite the novel features of my invention adapted to control the same.

Referring to the figures:

Figure 1 is a perspective disclosing the Working details of my vending machine. y

Figure 2 is a top view of that portion of the machine shown in Figure 1.'

Figure 3 is a side view of what is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a rear view of what is shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective of a portion of my vending machine shown from a rearward view.

Figure 6 is a perspective of a detail portion of 'the shelf lifting bracket and lever shown sembled in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a perspective of a portion ofthe shelf support showing how the disc support for the respective shelves rotates to release the shelf trigger letting a shelf drop.

Figure 8 is a perspective showing in an enlarged detail the mechanical connection between the coin operated mechanism and the shelf support and control mechanism.

Figure 9 is a perspective of a lever pivotally operated for holding the coin controlled cam in neutral position after the shelves have been emptied and adapted to be controlled in its operation by an engaging pin on one of the shelf support disc members.

Figure 10 is a perspective of the pawl adapted to engage the index yof the shelf support mechamsm.

Figure 11 is a perspective of a hand lever adapted to be used in manually controlling the rotation of the shelf support member.

Figure 12 is a perspective of the pawl member adapted to engage and rotate the ratchet disc of the shelf support member.

Figure 13 is a perspective of the hinged bracket and pawl engaging the ratchet teeth of the ratchet disc to prevent its turning backward.

Figure 14 is a perspective of one of the shelf support disc members of which there are as many as there are shelves to be supported.

Figure 15 is a perspective of a vending machine of our invention showing in a cut-away therein a cooling arrangement for cooling the merchandise to be dispensed by the use of ice or a suitable refrigerating system such as may be used within the scope of my invention. y

Figure 16 is a perspective of the top plate of our coin control member for control connection with the shelf supports of my invention.

Figure 17 is a perspective of a rotatable plate used for receiving and moving the coin over to the position where it will fall through the intermediate plates,

Figure 18 is a perspective of the central stationary plate of my coin control member.

Figure 19 is a perspective of the lower rotatable plate of my coin control device shown in its position supporting the coin control cam adapted to operatively control the shelf support and release mechanism of my machine.

Figure 20 is a perspective of the bottom plate of my coin control device as well as the hand lever, central post and pivoted cam lifting lever.

Figure 21 is a perspective of the bottom plate shown in Figure 20 byhaving the same upside down.

Referring in detail to the preferred construction of my coin control device and the intended manner of operating the same for the control of a vending machine I provide -within a casing 1, a frame 2, supporting a plurality of pivoted shelves 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively provided with shelf supporting triggers 7, 8, 9 and 10 adapted to normally rest respectively upon Supporting discs 11, 12, 13 and 14 secured in space relation to an upright rotatable post 15 supported at the top by a bracket 16.

These supporting discs are respectively provided, each with a peripheral notch 17, 18, 19 and 20 arranged in spiral relation to each other so that when standard 15 is rotated by actuating ratchet disc 21 then the pivoted shelves may be released consecutively from the bottom toward the top to let them'drop down and discharge the candy bar or other merchandise placed thereon for vending.

It will be noted that shelf 6, for instance, is released to drop when notch 20 is rotated about so as to register beneath trigger 10 while the next succeeding shelf 5 is released when notch 19 is rotated around to register beneath trigger 9 and so on up to the top where shelf 3 is released to drop when notch 17 is rotated about to register beneath trigger 7.

When all the shelves have discharged their merchandise as indicated by the release of the top shelf 3 then notches 17, 22, 23 and 24 being disposed in vertical alignment Will thus be in position to permit the trigger of the respective shelves to be lifted up through them by pressing down on lever 25.

By observing Figure 5 it will be noted that lever 25 is adapted to lift sliding bracket 26 which is provided with pin members 27 which rest under the respective shelves at the ends thereof. Sliding bracket 26 is guided by pins 28 and 29 in slots 30 and 31 respectively. Lever 25 is pivotally supported on a pin 32.

In a study of Figure 1` the operation of the mechanical details of my vending machine may be observed as they are shown in their operative connection with the coin opera-ted device which, when co-operatively connected with my shelf support and release members, functions as a control therefor.

Before explaining the operating details of my coin operated casing it may be observed that the upright standard 15 may be rotated by shifting lever 33 which is pivoted on a pin 34 supported on a bracket 35. By moving lever 33 to the left, for instance, then hook or pawl member 36 is caused to move forward to reach for another ratchet tooth 37 on ratchet disc 21 so that when the new tooth is engaged a movement to the right of lever 33, will pull back on pawl 36, resulting in rotating disc 21 with standard 15 and all of its disc supporting plates.

As pawl member 36, however, is forced forward to engage ratchet tooth 37, for instance, it is so formed as to bring it into contact with flange member 38 of pawl member 39, thus forcing pawl member 39 out of engagement with notch 46 of index member 41 disposed below ratchet disc 21.

However, lever 33 is operated by hand on occasions when needed adjustments are being made in the mechanism of my vending machine. Since I desire to operate my machine when in normal use by the manipulation of the coin operating device, it will be hereinafter explained.

A spring member 42 engages pawl'member 39 for holding it into engagement with index 4l. A resilient stop member 43 is adapted to engage the ratchet teeth of ratchet disc 21 for holding standard 1 5 from turning backwardk or causing a binding effect in the attempt to release pawl member 39 from engagement with index member 4l.

A guide bracket 44 is adapted to hold pawl 36 in line in its normal operation while spring member 45 is adapted to hold pawl member 36 in a normally retracted position.

I shall now attempt to point out the operating details of my coin operated device as I refer particularly to Figures 16, 17, 18, 19, 2O and 2l.

These figures are so arranged as to show the relative operating levels of the respective parts of the device, so as to show the position of each succeeding plate as one rests upon the other.

In the coin operated device it is intended to use only a nickel and to be designed so as to not permit any smaller or larger coins to be used nor to pass any rings, perforated slugs or iron slugs.

When properly assembled plate 46 forms the bottom plate and has pivotally connected therewith a cam control lever 47 the inner end 48 of which normally extends up through an elongated opening 49 in plate 46 while the outer end 40, being arched outward and upward, is adapted to function to control cam 51 on plate 52.

A hand control lever 53 is pivotally connected to central post 54 and centrally supported by a supporting bracket 55 beneath plate 46 while the under plate 56 serves as a. support and guide for hand lever 53.

Peripheral flange 57 about plate 46 provides holding means for the stationary plates of my coin control device.

Plate 52, for instance, is a rotatable plate having a central square hole 58 adapted to set snugly over the square faces 59 of central post 54 so as'to be rotated by moving hand lever 53. Plate 52 fits down in contact with plate 46 as it is rotated by post 59.

Plate 60 is a stationary plate and is held in place by a screw extending through screw hole 61 into peripheral notch 62 as central hole 63 of plate 60 clears central post 59 as-does central hole 64 of plate 46.

Plate 65 is adapted to nt on central post 59 by the central square hole 66 as does plate 52 by its central hole 58.

The top plate 67 has a relatively smaller central hole 68 adapted to fit down upon shoulder 69 of post 59 about thetop end 70 therein.

In observing top plate 67 I provide a pivoted drop lug 71 secured to the top surface of plate 67 and having its free end normally dropping down tc'7 extend through a rectangular hole 72 in plate Top plate 67 is secured to peripheral flange 57 so that a small screw extending through hole 73 will flt into hole 74 of flange 57 while a holding screw extending through hole 75 in plate 67 will fit into hole 76 of flange 57, etc.

A horse-shoe magnet 77 or other 4suitable electro-magnet is secured to the top of plate 67 so as to attract and hold any iron slugs that may be put into the device to prevent such slugs from going through the coin device while drop lug 71 is adapted to catch into the central hole of a ring slug or other perforated slugs which may be fraudulently put into the device to operate the vending machine.

When this device is properly adjusted for use lever 53 is positioned over to the extreme left of its limits of movement while movable plates 52 and 65 are over to the extreme left position which places hole 78 of plate 65 under hole 79 of plate 67.

The purpose of this coin device in connection with my vending machine is to so function as to permit a nickel or ordinary five cent piece in United States money to be put through the device in a manner that will cause cam member 51 to move back to the right under pin 103 until it has passed the pin by pushing lever 53 as far to the right as possible and then causing cam 51 to lift pivotally on its supporting pin 80 sufliciently to cause the cam to come in contact with the rear side of pin 103. Thus when lever 53 is pulled back again to the left the cam 51 will pull against pin 103 and cause pawl member 36 to pull'on ratchet teeth 37 thus rotating standard 15 with its disc supports for the supporting shelves for the merchandise.

When this coin operated device is functioning it 'operates as follows:

Movable plates 52 and 65 are normally turned to the extreme left so that hole 78 of plate 65 registers under hole 79 of plate 67, and so that slot 81 will reach far enough to the left to permit it to register where hole 84 of ,plate 52 may receive the nickel through hole 83. A nickel is dropped into hole 103 and comes to rest in hole 78 of plate 65 supported by the solid portion of plate over which hole 78 is now resting while hole 83 of plate 60 remains stationary. Then when lever 53 is pushed to the right the nickel being within the inclosure of hole 78 of plate is moved over to the right as in the position shown in the drawings far enough to permit the nickel to drop down through hole 83 of plate 60 and into hole 84 of plate 52 where it rests upon plate 46 to the right of hole 49 therein.

When the nickel is thus resting upon plate 46 the handle 53 is pulled back to the left again moving plates 52 and plates 65 to the left again, and as they move back the nickel slides over the top point of inner end 48 of cam control lever 47 thus pushing this point down and causing the rear end 50 of lever 47 to lift and as it lifts cam 51 is pivotally lifted by it as this cam slides over the arcuate portion of rear end 50. As the nickel slides over point 48 of lever 47 the nickel would slip out of hole 84 were it not for the fact that the nickel is too Wide in diameter to be pushed back up through elongated hole 82 in plate 60; thus the nickel is held down firmly by plate 60, as it is encompassed in hole 84, by plate 52.

Thus after the nickel has slid over point 48 and the rearward slot 85 moves over point 48 then the nickel is moved on around by moving lever 53 until the nickel drops through hole 83 of plate 46 and out into a coin receiving pocket (not shown).

If a small coin is put into this coin device into hole 79 of plate 67 and lever 53 is moved at all, then hole 78 of plate 65 will only carry the small coin as far as elongated hole 82; because the small coin will then drop through hole 82 in plate 60 and through slot 81 in plate 52 and through hole 83 or hole 49 of plate 46 so that the small coin will not operate this device.

A washer or perforated lug when inserted in hole 79 of the top plate will only be moved around to the right by a hole 78 farenough to permit the central hole of the perforated slug to be caught by drop lug 71 which holds the slug from going any farther and not permitting it to go far enough to drop through hole 83 in plate 60.

If an iron slug is placed in hole 79 and moved to the right by hole 78 of plate 65 it may move under drop lug 71 if it is the same thickness as a nickel but as quickly as it gets under magnet 77 it will be attracted thereby and held up against the bottom surface of plate 67 which should b'e made of brass; thus to keep the iron slug from going through the coin device.

Cam 51 pushes pawl 36 substantially longitudinally causing the hook of pawl 36 to move over the ratchet Wheel to another tooth, at the same time camming pawl 39 out oflocking relationship. When cam 51 has passed pin 103 then spring member 45 pulls pawl 36 rotating the ratchet wheels engaged thereby and permitting pawl'39 to again lock the parts. Standard 15 thus rotates far enough during each operation to move the next adjacent slot in the respective plates thereon for supporting the respective shelves in place to permit the respective shelf supporting figures in their turn to 'drop down through the slot, dropping the shelf and the merchandise supported thereon.

In a study of Figure 1 it will be observed that a pivoted lever 87 pivoted on a. bracket 88 has an end notch 89 at the lower end and a round end 90 at the upper end thereof. As the last shelf is released at the top pin 91 secured to the bottom of disc supporting plate 14 moves around to engage end 90 in lever 87 pushing out on the top end of this lever causing notch 89 to engage peg 92 of cam 51; thus holding the cam into a neutral posltion until the operator is ready to rell the shelves and reset the vending machine ready for use again; at which time he makes the necessary adjustments by using the hand lever 33 until the shelves and the machine are set for operation. This lever 87 is normally retracted from its engaged position by a spring 93.

It will be noted that when the shelves supporting the candy bars and the like are lifted to their normally horizontal position that they'are prevented from going higher by bumping into pegs or pin members 94 one of which is placed 1n the upright frame member 95 above each shelf so they will stick out over the shelf far enough to stop the shelf on its upward move.

In order to prevent the candy bars and the like from falling into the shelf supporting discs as they are dropped to release their candy, there is provided a pair of front plates 96 and 97 of glass or other suitable material in front of the shelves.

The candy supporting shelves are pivotally attached to upright frame member 98.

The working parts of my vending machine when in use are operatively enclosed in a casing 1 so that when the vending machine is operated the candy bars and the like will drop down into the front openings 99 in the casing 1.

In the cut-away in Figure 15 I have shown a chunk of ice 100 in the compartment 101 but any suitable refrigerating method or means adaptable to my vending machine would be practical for our purposes.

Casing 102 supports the operating mechanism 0f my Vending machine as well as the frame structure which supports the shelves thereof..

Having thusdescribed the nature of my invention what I claim is:

'1. A coin operated mechanism comprising a plurality of apertured plates including a central, a top and a bottom stationary plate and a pair of spaced intermediate rotatable plates, a hand lever and a central non-circular supporting post for the control and support of said rotatable plates; said lower rotatable plate provided with a pivoted peripheral cam andsaid lower fixed plate provided with a pivoted lever cam for pivotally lifting said peripheral cam when actuated by a coin controlled by said lower rotating plate, apertures through said plates adapted to respectively register in adjacent plates when'sald movable plates are placed in predetermined positions of pivotal adjustment to permit a coin to drop from one level to another in the control of said coin mechanism, and means establishing operative connection between said peripheral cam and a machine controlled by said coin operated mechanism. Y

2. A coin actuated device operatively and controllably connected with a merchandise supporting and releasing means of a vending machine and comprising a plurality of parallel plates disposed about a central post and including a top, a central and a lower fixed plate and a pivotally movable plate above and below said central fixed plate; said movable plates secured to said central post and a hand lever controllably secured to said post; said plates provided with apertures near the periphery thereof and having adjacent contact and the apertures of the respective adjacent plates adapted to be moved into registry with every other plate for admitting a coin therethrough by a predetermined pivotal adjustment of said hand lever, a pivoted cam member secured to the periphery of said movable plate, a cam control lever pivoted to and extending through an opening in said lower fixed plate, a pivoted stop member secured to said top xed plate, and extending therethrough, and a magnet secured to the top of said top plate; a holding pin secured to said peripheral cam and a pivoted lever establishing a control connection between said vending machine and said peripheral cam.

3. A coin operated mechanism comprising a stationary base plate provided with a. central hole therein, a side flange a rotatable central post extending through said central hole defining actuating means for an associated mechanism, a hand lever secured to the post and peripheral apertures in the base plate, a second plate provided with a central non-circular hole and a peripheral aperture and a pivoted cam extending beyond the perimeter of said plate, a third plate provided with a central hole freely encompassing said central post and secured to said side flange and-a plurality of peripheral apertures, said third plate normally resting upon said second plate permitting the second plate to rotate freely, a fourth plate provided with a central non-circular hole and a peripheral aperture and engaging said central post, a fifth and top plate provided with a central hole, a peripheral aperture, a pivoted drop lug secured to said plate and movable within a slot therein and a magnet secured to the top of said plate; means for securing said top plate to said side flange and a cam controlled lever pivotally secured to the under side of said base plate and a pivoted peripheral cam actuated thereby; whereby when said central post is rotated by said hand lever said second and said fourth plates are rotated thereby; and whereby when a coin of predetermined size is placed into said peripheral aperture of the top plate said hand lever may be pivotally moved so as to permit the coin to drop through to said base plate and caused to lift said cam control lever upon the retraction of said pivoted hand lever for pivotally lifting said peripheral cam secured to said base plate; a pin stop member cooperating with said cam control lever for the control of said peripheral cam by the coin and means establishing operative connection between said coin control mechanism and a vending machine adapted to be controlled thereby.

FRED R. COATS. 

